WATCH: Territorial Giraffes Use Their Necks as Swords

Ah, the tough life of a giraffe. Some grazing, some wandering, and a lot of not fitting under low-slung branches. They’re herbivores and decent runners too, so they prefer to simply sprint away from any potential predators. But a new video proves that perhaps giraffes are not as docile as we imagine them to be — the rare footage captured by the Discovery Channel reveals two “giraffes gone wild,” using their long necks to attack each other.

The Discovery Channel crew, which was filming giraffes in Namibia for a new series entitled Africa, caught two giraffes using their necks as long swords in the middle of a skirmish. Their extended necks, apparently, are not just used to reach the highest branches.

“People tend to think of giraffes as nice, docile, sweet animals, and they generally are,” large-predator expert Dave Salmoni told ABC News. Animal experts surmise that more than likely, the two giraffes were fighting over territory or a mate. And thankfully, giraffes don’t fight to the death.

Related

Ah, the tough life of a giraffe. Some grazing, some wandering, and a lot of not fitting under low-slung branches. They’re herbivores and decent runners too, so they prefer to simply sprint away from any potential predators. But a new video proves that perhaps giraffes are not as docile as we imagine them to be — the rare footage captured by the Discovery Channel reveals two “giraffes gone wild,” using their long necks to attack each other.

The Discovery Channel crew, which was filming giraffes in Namibia for a new series entitled Africa, caught two giraffes using their necks as long swords in the middle of a skirmish. Their extended necks, apparently, are not just used to reach the highest branches.

“People tend to think of giraffes as nice, docile, sweet animals, and they generally are,” large-predator expert Dave Salmoni told ABC News. Animal experts surmise that more than likely, the two giraffes were fighting over territory or a mate. And thankfully, giraffes don’t fight to the death.